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Topic: Sigma Launches the Sigma USB DOCK (Read 18011 times)

Sigma USB Dock
By connecting the USB cable to a computer, SIGMA USB DOCK enables photographers to update the lens firmware and adjust parameters such as focus. The adjustment is processed with special software (SIGMA Optimization Pro). The AF speed, focus limiter and OS function are also customizable for Sports lenses.

canon rumors FORUM

Have to admit I don't actually understand all that so a breakdown in simple terms would be most appreciated but if it's what I think it will do (AFAM on steriods without additional calibration software) then it sounds absolutely brilliant!

I think a lot of the thought behind this is the ability to change the software/firmware on a lens. This way if Canon (or Nikon, etc) decide to change the protocol of how the camera body communicates with the lens, Sigma can roll out updates so your lenses don't become fancy paperweights.

On the same note, if you are able to tweak other parameters, that could be interesting as well.

^ Do you really expect corporations to code their software to work with Linux, representing a whopping under 2% of computer users?

Anyways, if sigma would have had this accessory years ago it would have saved their brand an awful lot of hurt over bad AF!

Well, yes. They could easily have used a cross platform library for writing the application and then it would have worked everywhere. I am tired of companies offering software for Windows and Mac OS alone. It smacks of laziness.

I think this could be a big step in lenses, allowing end-users to be able to tweak some designs slightly. I think that if they actually made it so that this could be attached while the lens and body were attached, and something like FoCal could support the Sigma protocol, it could allow for some really interesting AF tweaks for a specific lens+body configuration. Now if only there were a way to get the lens to recognize a specific body and store camera body profiles like a body can recognize an individual lens...

I have to say I'm impressed - lenses have reached the digital age at last, it'll be interesting to see if Canon follows and adds more customization options for their lenses directly through the eos cameras.

I have to say I'm impressed - lenses have reached the digital age at last, it'll be interesting to see if Canon follows and adds more customization options for their lenses directly through the eos cameras.

They might. And then prevent 3rd parties like FoCal from accessing those like what they did for the 5d3. And no, I'm not going to stop grumbling about that.

AdamJ

I have a heavily modified superbike with a third party box of tricks (Power Commander) that assigns a fuel/air ratio for every combination of engine speed and gear. I'm hoping that the Sigma device and the lens firmware will allow similarly accurate mapping so that it will compensate for focus shifting at any aperture and focus distance. There's no reason why it couldn't allow this technically. If so, I'd buy their 50mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.4.

They might. And then prevent 3rd parties like FoCal from accessing those like what they did for the 5d3. And no, I'm not going to stop grumbling about that.

Maybe it does make you feel better there's full FoCal support for the 6d again, Canon might have heard your grumbling!

Now if they fix it for the 5d3 for the supposedly forthcoming firmware update, I'll stop grumbling. If they actually do it, I'll sing a few praises, if not, I'll blast them with some more email communication asking them to stop being 'tards. In nicer words though.

I think this could be a big step in lenses, allowing end-users to be able to tweak some designs slightly. I think that if they actually made it so that this could be attached while the lens and body were attached, and something like FoCal could support the Sigma protocol, it could allow for some really interesting AF tweaks for a specific lens+body configuration. Now if only there were a way to get the lens to recognize a specific body and store camera body profiles like a body can recognize an individual lens...

^ Do you really expect corporations to code their software to work with Linux, representing a whopping under 2% of computer users?

Anyways, if sigma would have had this accessory years ago it would have saved their brand an awful lot of hurt over bad AF!

Well, yes. They could easily have used a cross platform library for writing the application and then it would have worked everywhere. I am tired of companies offering software for Windows and Mac OS alone. It smacks of laziness.

it smacks of good business sense, you don't waste money and stay in business.

^ Do you really expect corporations to code their software to work with Linux, representing a whopping under 2% of computer users?

Anyways, if sigma would have had this accessory years ago it would have saved their brand an awful lot of hurt over bad AF!

Well, yes. They could easily have used a cross platform library for writing the application and then it would have worked everywhere. I am tired of companies offering software for Windows and Mac OS alone. It smacks of laziness.

it smacks of good business sense, you don't waste money and stay in business.

I think what JohnnyWashngo is trying to say is, it likely could have been done in a fully cross-platform for little to no additional cost (money/personal/etc). Not sure if he's completely correct or not, but it very well may be correct since the only cross-platform stuff I've developed has been Java, and that has it's own quirks and issues.

If the cost had actually be very minimal, it might very well have been nice to release it. However, I'm sure some enterprising person will sniff the USB packets and reverse engineer the protocol. Then all of us linux geeks (well, ok, I use Windows for Lightroom. I'm sorry ) can put together our own application as we will.